The First Monkey Enters the Touch-Screen Booth

Friday, March 20, 2015

by Lincoln Park Zoo

in

Regenstein Macaque Forest

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We recently unsealed for the first time the doors that allow our troop of Japanese macaques access to the touch-screen booths built the Regenstein Macaque Forest. We had no idea if the snow monkeys would come in. We had no idea if they would even notice that these doors, locked for the entire time they’ve been on exhibit, were now unlocked and that the booth was ready for them.

Female snow monkey Mito ventured into Regenstein Macaque Forest's touch-screen booth on the first day it was open!

We hoped they would lean on the doors to see the food we threw in, that the doors would give a bit (think doggy doors) and the monkeys would find their way in. And they did! Well, maybe that’s not exactly how it happened. But there was a monkey in the booth last week.

Mito was the first member of the troop to enter the touch-screen booth where zoo scientists will conduct voluntary cognitive research.

Mito, one of the females, was the first one in. My money was on Ono, the first one to venture into the exhibit’s central hot spring. Ono did check the doors out, but she wasn’t as determined as Mito. Ono took more of an “evaluate from a distance” approach—you could almost see the wheels turning as she peered through the glass, looked from different angles and stepped back to watch the others investigate.

Female Ono, pictured here in February, was intrigued by the booth doors but didn't enter. She was the first to splash into Regenstein Macaque Forest's hot spring.

But Mito was the one who took a more hands-on approach. She didn’t use the doggy door in the way we expected. (But why would she? It’s hard for us to think like monkeys, and she definitely wasn’t thinking like a dog.) Rather than push into it with her weight, she lifted the door with her hand, held it up a bit with her back foot and then quickly scooted under. She was in!

Mito inspected the door, then pulled it back for entry.

We tried to hold back our cheers so as not to startle this brave girl who kicked off our voluntary cognitive research program. Thanks to her we can get started studying the minds of these monkeys. Now let’s see who in her troop follows suit.

Learn More

Post from the President—Snow Monkeys Step Outside
The eight-member snow monkey troop at Regenstein Macaque Forest has made its first appearance! President and CEO Kevin Bell shares more about the Japanese macaques and the exhibit’s planned opening.

Meet the Macaques
The eight members of the zoo’s snow monkey troop have been exploring their new home at Regenstein Macaque Forest and establishing a social hierarchy. Learn who’s who with these individual snapshot bios.